Indexable dispenser cartridges

ABSTRACT

An indexable cartridge and method that is useable in either a stagnant fluid environment or in a moving fluid environment with the indexable cartridge floatable in a stagnant fluid environment and securable in a moving fluid environment with the indexable cartridge having a housing having one or more diffusion ports and a sleeve having one or more diffusion ports indexable to a diffusion port alignment through resilient yielding of the sleeve while a set of ribs inhibit lateral flow therebetween.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 12/075,003filed Mar. 7, 2008 titled DISPENSER CARTRIDGE (pending).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to dispensers and, more specifically,to an indexable universal cartridge or dispenser that is usable ineither a stagnant fluid environment or in a moving fluid environment toprovide an indexable control of the rate of dispersant from a zonewithin the dispenser to a zone exterior of the dispenser.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of inline dispensers and floating dispensers for dispensinga dispersant into a body of fluid such as a body of water is known inthe art. In general, two types of dispensers exist, one for use instagnant bodies of fluids and one for use in moving fluid streams.

An example of a floating dispenser for use in stagnant fluid such asfound in an open spa, a hot tub or a swimming pool is shown in King U.S.Pat. No. 4,702,270. The floating dispenser includes an outer rotatablecylindrical housing located around a cylindrical container. To adjustthe amount of dispersant released the inner housing and the outerhousing are rotated with respect to one another to either increase ordecrease the fluid flow area or the hole area in the side wall of thedispenser.

An example of an inline dispenser for use in dispensing materials into amoving fluid environment, such as in an inline system, is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 4,270,565. The dispenser comprises a container with openingsspaced circumferentially around the bottom of the container, which isnormally shielded by an outer sleeve. In operation, the container islowered into a fluid stream to allow the fluid stream to flow directlythrough the container. By raising or lowering the portion of thecontainer in contact with the fluid stream one can allow more or less ofthe fluid stream to flow through the container. In this type of system,one can control the release of dispersant into the inline system bycontrolling either the size of the fluid stream flowing through thedispenser or the velocity of the fluid stream.

In general, a user having both an inline system with a moving fluidenvironment and an open system with a stagnant fluid environmentrequires two different types of dispensers in order to controllablerelease the dispersant in each system. That is, one type of dispenserfor the stagnant fluid environment and a second type for the inlinesystem, which has a moving fluid environment. The present inventioncomprises a universal cartridge that can be adjusted to controllablerelease the proper amount of dispersant in either a stagnant fluidenvironment or a moving fluid environment.

Each of the above type of dispensing member works well when used in theproper fluid environment that it was designed for. However, it isdifficult to use a dispenser, which works well in a stagnant fluid, in amoving fluid or conversely to use a dispenser, which works well inmoving fluid, in a stagnant fluid and still obtain the proper dispersalrates. If one can not obtain the proper dispersal rates one can notachieve the proper concentration of the dispersant in the surroundingfluid. That is, the concentration of dispersant in the fluid may beeither to high or to low. If the concentration of dispersant is amaterial, such as a bactericide, is to low it will not kill the bacteriain the fluid and if the concentration of the dispersant is to high itmay be obnoxious or harmful. Either condition is unsatisfactory.

One of the difficulties with having a dispenser operate in either astagnant fluid environment or in a moving fluid environment is that itappears that fluid flow conditions and, more particularly, it appearsthat fluid perturbations can have a substantial effect on the dispersalrate of a dispersant contained within a cartridge dispenser.Consequently, a cartridge dispenser that suitably dispenses a dispersantin a stagnant fluid environment can yield unpredictable dispersion rateswhen placed in a moving fluid environment even though the fluid velocityand flow rate remains the same.

Generally, the dispersant rate of a dispersant in a stagnant fluid isdependent on the difference in concentrations of the dispersant indifferent regions of the fluid. With a larger difference in dispersantconcentrations between a dispersant in one part of the fluid and adispersant in another part of the fluid one has a more rapid dispersantdispersal rate and with a lower difference in concentration between adispersant in one part of the fluid and a dispersant in another part ofthe fluid the dispersant dispersal rate is less.

It is known that changing fluid conditions, such as changing thevelocity of the fluid through a dispersant can alter the dispersantrate, i.e. the rate that a dispersant is transferred to the surroundingfluid. However, one of the problem that occurs is that if one increasesthe fluid velocity around a dispenser for stagnant fluids one does notalways produce consistent dispensing results. That is, at one time afirst velocity of fluid may produce one dispersant rate and at a latertime the same fluid velocity may produce an entirely differentdispersant rate. While not fully understood it is believed that fluidperturbations are present that can have a substantial effect on thedispersant dispersal rate. That is, the fluid perturbations can producean unstable flow condition that cause the dispersant dispersal rate tofluctuate unpredictably over a wide range even though the flow ratemight remain constant in the region of the dispenser.

The King Technology U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,540 discloses a universalcartridge dispenser that allows one to maintain predictable dispersantdispersal rates in either a stagnant fluid environment or a moving fluidenvironment when a moving fluid is directed around the universalcartridge dispenser. In the moving fluid environment one can positionthe universal cartridge proximate a moving fluid stream and obtainpredicable results based on the dispersant transport area between theinterior of the dispenser and the exterior of the dispenser. Similarly,in a stagnant fluid environment one can position the universal cartridgein a body of fluid and obtain consistent results based on the dispersanttransport area in the universal cartridge dispenser. That is, it hasbeen found that under either a stagnant fluid environment or a movingfluid environment one can effectively control the dispersant rate of thedispersant and hence the concentration of dispersant in the surroundingfluid. By allowing one to obtain a predictable and repeatable dispersantdispersal rate it allows one to use the universal cartridge dispenser ineither a stagnant fluid environment or a moving fluid environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention comprises an indexable universal cartridge andmethod that is useable in either a stagnant fluid environment or in amoving fluid environment with the indexable universal cartridgefloatable in a stagnant fluid environment and securable in a movingfluid environment with the indexable universal cartridge having ahousing having one or more diffusion ports and an outer sleeve havingone or more diffusion ports with the housing and the outer sleevemateable engaged with each other through frictional engagement of a setof elongated ribs to inhibit flow between non-aligned diffusion portswhile permitting rotational displacement of the housing with respect tothe sleeve to allow one to increase or decrease a dispersant transportarea between a zone within the housing to a zone exterior to the housingthrough aligning one or more of the diffusion ports of the housing withone or more of the diffusion ports of the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the indexable universal cartridge;

FIG. 1A is a partial view of the index tab and a yieldable region of theuniversal cartridge of FIG. 1 with the index tab in a first position;

FIG. 1 b is a partial view of the index tab and yieldable region of theuniversal cartridge of FIG. 1A with the index tab in an intermediateposition;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the engagement of the elongated ribs andthe housing of the universal cartridge;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 in a second dispensingmode;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section view of the dispenser revealing theaxial and transaxial extending rows of diffusion ports in the housing ofthe universal cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a front view of the universal cartridge 10. Universalcartridge 10 comprises an outer cup-like frusto conical sleeve 11 havingan open top 11 a and a closed bottom 11 b. Extending in acircumferential direction partially around sleeve 11 is an indexing slot11 c. Extending in an axial direction and located along an axial surfaceelement of sleeve 11 are seven elongated diffusion ports 11 d. In theembodiment shown each of the seven diffusion ports 11 d are locateddiametrical opposite seven identical diffusion ports (not shown) on theopposite face of sleeve 11. While seven diffusion ports 11 d are shownin one face of sleeve 11 the number of diffusion ports can be selectedbased on the amount of diffusion required between the interior and theexterior of cartridge 10 therefore one or more diffusion ports can beplaced in sleeve 11 depending upon the application and the need for moreor less transfer of material threrethrough.

Located on the top portion of sleeve 11 is a circumferentially extendingindexing slot 11 c and circumferentially extending L shaped relief slots18 and 20 which are shown in enlarged view in FIG. 1A. The indexing slot11 c includes a set of seven notches 17 that extend substantiallyperpendicular to the slot 11 c. FIG. 1A reveals resiliently yieldablesections of sleeve 11 comprising an upper axially resiliently yieldableband 25 that extends between slot 11 c and top 11 a and a first loweraxially resiliently yieldable band 26 that extends between slot 11 a andslot 18 and a second lower axially resiliently yieldable band 27 thatextends between slot 11 a and slot 20.

FIG. 1A shows a top portion of sleeve 11 with a housing 12 having aprotruding index tab 15 an extension 15 a located in one of the notches17 in top of band 26. A viewing window 21 in sleeve 11 reveals a setting“2” on housing 12, which corresponds to a particular alignment of theone or more diffusion ports 40 of housing 12 with the one or morediffusion ports 11 d of sleeve 11.

In the position shown in FIG. 1A the housing 12 and the sleeve 11 arerotationally linked to each other through extension 15 a on index tab 15which prevents accidental or inadvertent rotation of housing 12 withrespect to sleeve 11. That is, the protruding index tab 15 on housing 12is normally axially restrained from upward and downward movement by theupper sidewall 30 and lower sidewall 31 of slot 11 c. Consequently indextab 15 is prevented from accidental or inadvertent rotationaldisplacement with respect to sleeve 11 c since the engagement ofextension 15 a with a notch 17 inhibits or restrains the rotation ofhousing 12 with respect to sleeve 11. The aforedescribed locking orlinking engagement between index tab 15 and sleeve 11 preventsaccidental rotation of housing 12 with respect to sleeve 11 and thusinadvertent misalignment of the one or more diffusion ports of thesleeve 11 and the one or more diffusion ports of the housing 12.Although the housing 12 and sleeve 11 are normally locked in place asshown in FIG. 1A the sleeve 11 is configured so as to selectively andresiliently yield when sufficient external torque is applied betweenhousing 12 and sleeve 11. That is, the band 25 and the bands 26 and 27provide an inherent resistance to yielding which is sufficient tonormally maintain index tab 15 in the locked or linked position as shownin FIG. 1A. However, when the torque applied between housing 12 andsleeve 11 exceeds a sufficient threshold, a linking threshold, thelateral force exerted by index tab 15 causes one or more of the bandsabove and below slot 11 c to begin to yield. As the bands resilientlyyield and deflect the index tab 15 and hence housing 12 can be rotatedwith respect to sleeve 11.

FIG. 1B shows a condition during the resilient yielding of band 25 whenthe torque applied to the housing 12 with respect to the sleeve 11 hasexceeded the linking threshold. In the condition the portion of sleeve11 with the index tab and extension 15 a are shown located intermediatelateral slots 17. This condition represents a rotation of housing 12with respect to sleeve 11 as indicated by the circumferentialdisplacement of index tab 15 with respect to slot 11 c. Since the indextab 15 is sufficiently rigid because of greater thickness T than sleevethickness T₁ one or more or all of the bands 25, 26 and 27 can axiallyand resiliently yield to allow the laterally passage of index tab 15from one notch to another notch. Although the rigidity of tab 15 isobtained by greater thickness other methods including using differentmaterials may also be used.

FIG. 1B illustrates the resiliently yieldable section of sleeve 11showing the top circumferential band 25 flexing upward to allow theindex tab 15 to be moved from one position to another position byrotation of housing 12 with respect to sleeve 11. With index tab 15integrally formed to housing 12 and the sleeve 11 resiliently yieldablein response to an applied indexing torque one can provide a positiveindexing between housing 12 and sleeve 11 without the aid of externalseparate locks or latches. Housing 12 and sleeve 11 can be made from apolymer plastic such as polypropylene since both the inherent stiffnessof the index tab and the inherent yieldablity of the sleeve can be foundin the same material. Although polypropylene is described it isenvisioned that other materials can be used as long as the materialsprovide the proper characteristics that allow yielding and rigidity. Inthe example shown in FIG. 1B the yielding can occur because of thelesser material thickness T and length of the bands while the rigidityof the index tab can be obtained by the larger material thickness T₁.

While the index tab 15 has been described with respect to slot 11 c,which is located on a front face of sleeve 11, a second index tab 36 islocated on the back face of sleeve 11 (FIG. 3) with the second index taband slot diametrical opposite from one another. Although index tabs andslots on opposite sides of the dispenser are described a single indextab and slot is sufficient to provide the axial and circumferentialrestraint between sleeve 11 and housing 12 to maintain housing 12 andsleeve 11 in an indexed position.

A reference to FIG. 2 reveals the concentric location of sleeve 11 withrespect to housing 12 and chamber 35. Sleeve 11 and housing 12 aredimensions such that when assembled as shown in FIG. 1 a first set ofelongated ribs 28, 29 on housing 12 engage an outer sealing surface onsleeve 11 and a second set of elongated ribs 30, 31 on the opposite sideof housing 12 engage an outer sealing surface on the opposite side ofsleeve 11 to inhibit lateral fluid transfer therepast and to encouragefluid transfer through a transport area defined by an alignment of oneor more of the diffusion ports in housing 12 and one or more of thediffusion ports in sleeve 11. In the embodiment shown a set ribs arelocated on opposite sides of sleeve 11, however, if desired only one setof ribs can be used or if desired multiple sets of ribs could beincluded.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view shown the first axially extending elongatedrib 29 integrally formed to sleeve 11 with an end 29 a sealinglyengaging outer sealing surface 20 a and a second axially extendingelongated rib 28 with an end 28 a sealingly engaging a sealing surface20 a on housing 12. The sealing ribs 28 and 29 are generally parallel toeach other but need not be as long as sealing can be accomplishedbetween rows of diffusion ports. In the position shown a diffusion ports40 in housing 12 is in alignment with a diffusion ports 11 d in sleeve11. The elongated ribs 28 and 29 frictionally engage the housing surface20 a to form a fluid seal therebetween to inhibit lateral fluid transfertherepast and to encourage fluid transfer through a transport areadefined by an alignment of diffusion ports 40 in housing 12 with adiffusion ports 11 d in sleeve 11. Thus the lateral rib sealing on thesides of diffusion ports inhibits or prevents lateral flow and therebymaintains a constant size of the diffusion region between an interior ofthe dispenser and an exterior of the dispenser. In the embodiment showna full frictional engagement between a first elongated rib 29 and asecond elongated rib 28 extending therebetween does not occur until thesleeve 11 and housing 12 are in an axially fixed position with respectto each other as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a partial section view of the sleeve 11 revealing the setof axial and transaxial aligned diffusion ports located in housing 12.The number of diffusion ports 40 in each vertical row determine thenumber of diffusion ports 40 that can be aligned with the diffusionports 11 d. That is, the transaxial diffusion ports 40 are in axiallyalignment so that one or more of the diffusion ports 11 d can be broughtinto axial alignment with the diffusion ports 11 d in sleeve 11. Each ofthe diffusion ports 40 are latterly spaced from each other sufficientlyfar so that an elongated rib 29, 28, which are substantially parallel toeach other can extend therebetween to form a lateral seal between theend of the rib and the housing as illustrated FIG. 2A. That is, end 29 aand end 28 a each form a lateral seal with surfaces 20 a and 12 a,respectively to inhibit or prevent lateral flow. Thus when the sleeve 11contains an axial row of one or more diffusion ports 11 d and thehousing 12 contains a plurality of transaxial rows of the one or morediffusion ports 40 a first sealing rib 28 and a second sealing rib 29,which may be located substantially parallel to each other and having awidth less than a lateral spacing between the one or more diffusionports in the plurality of transaxial rows, can thereby inhibit lateraltransfer of fluid between the housing 12 and the sleeve 11 thusproviding a precise transport area from the inside of the dispenser tothe outside of the dispenser.

Integrally formed to housing 12 are visual indicators comprisingnumerals 0-6 which provide a reference as to the rotational position ofhousing 12 with respect to sleeve 11. Each of the individual numeralscan be selective viewed through window 32 in sleeve 11 as evidenced byFIG. 1 and FIG. 4. FIG. 1 shows the housing 12 and sleeve in oneposition with the number “4” visible with diffusion ports in the housingand the sleeve in alignment with each other. FIG. 4 shows the housing 12and the sleeve 11 in a different rotatational position with respect toeach other with the number “5” visible through the window 21. In thiscondition eight horizontal rows of diffusion ports 40 are in verticalalignment with 5 diffusion ports 11 d in sleeve 11. While numerals areshown as visual indicators other types of visual indicators can be used.While the visual indicators are formed directly in the housing they mayor may not be formed directly in housing 12. Also, if desired indicatorscan be placed on opposite sides of housing 12 so that one can view thesetting of the dispenser cartridge from either side.

FIG. 3 shows that located at the top portion of cartridge 10 is a float46 that has an air chamber 36 with sufficient buoyancy to maintain atleast part of the universal cartridge 10 in a submerged condition andpart of the universal dispenser in an unsubmerged condition. Float 45can comprise an air chamber 36 that provides buoyancy to the cartridge.If desired the chamber 36 can be filled with a buoyant material otherthan air. Float 46 allows the universal cartridge or dispenser 10 tofloat in either a free floating or fixed position in stagnant fluidsystem.

Although housing 12 is shown with a frusto conical shape and the sleeve11 has a frusto conical shape the housing 12 and sleeve 11 can also beshapes such as cylindrical if desired.

Housing 12 has a chamber 35 therein with dispersant 44 located inchamber 35. Typically, the dispersant can be any of the halogens orminerals or the like that yield a material that provides the necessaryfluid treatment. Examples of minerals include ion yielding materialsthat can be used to treat water in hot tubs or swimming pools to rid thewater their of unwanted organisms. One particularly well suiteddispersant material uses silver chloride as an ion yielding material.

Thus, the invention includes a universal cartridge for controllabledelivery of a dispersant in either a stagnant liquid or a moving liquidenvironment such as found in a hot tub, spa or swimming pool or otherbodies of recreational water. The uses of the present invention aredescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/406,840 Publication no.US 2006/0254968 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

It is apparent the invention includes the method of indexing a dispenserto change a first diffusion rate to a second diffusion rate by placing adispensable material into a housing 12 having a one or more diffusionports 11 d with the housing normally linked to a sleeve 11 having one ormore diffusion ports 40 and by torqueing the sleeve 11 with respect tothe housing 12 with sufficient torque so as to cause a portion of thesleeve 11 to resiliently yield to allow an indexing rotation of thesleeve with respect to the housing to thereby change an alignment of theone or more diffusion ports 40 of the housing 12 with the one or morediffusion ports 11 d of the sleeve 11. By using a pair of ribs one caninhibit lateral flow between the housing and the sleeve and by engaginga pair of ribs on the sleeve with the housing one can inhibit lateralflow and by forcing an index tab from a first notch on sleeve 11 into adifferent notch in the sleeve 11 without deforming the index tab one canchange the alignment of the diffusion ports of the housing with respectto the diffusion ports of the sleeve.

The invention claimed is:
 1. The method of indexing a dispenser tochange a first diffusion rate to a second diffusion rate comprising:placing a dispensable material into a housing having a one or morediffusion ports with the housing normally linked to a sleeve having oneor more diffusion ports; extending an axially resilient yieldable regionpartially around the sleeve, said axially resilient yieldable regionhaving an upper axially resilient band located above a slot in thesleeve and a first lower axially resilient band and a second loweraxially resilient band extended below the slot; placing an index tab onthe housing in engagement with one of a plurality of notches extendingfrom the slot into one of the lower axially resilient bands to maintainthe housing and the sleeve in a linked condition; providing a firstsealing rib extending radially inward proximate an opening in the sleevewith the first sealing rib extending radially away from said sleeve withsaid first sealing rib having an end in face-to-face engagement with anouter surface of the housing to maintain the housing in a spacedcondition from the sleeve while integrally forming a portion of one sideof said one or more diffusion ports of said sleeve and a second sealingrib extending radially inward proximate the opening in the sleeve withthe second sealing rib extending radially away from said sleeve withsaid second sealing rib having an end in face-to-face engagement with anouter surface of the housing to maintain the housing in a spacedcondition from the sleeve while integrally forming a portion of an otherside of said one or more diffusion ports of said sleeve; providing athird sealing rib extending radially inward proximate a further openingin the sleeve with the third sealing rib extending radially away fromsaid sleeve with said third rib having an end in face-to-face engagementwith an outer surface of the housing to maintain the housing in a spacedcondition from the sleeve while integrally forming a further portion ofone side of said one or more diffusion ports of said sleeve and a fourthsealing rib extending radially inward proximate the further opening inthe sleeve with the fourth sealing rib extending radially away from saidsleeve with said fourth sealing rib having an end in face-to-faceengagement with an outer surface of the housing to maintain the housingin a spaced condition from the sleeve while forming a further portion ofan other side of said one or more diffusion ports of said sleeve withsaid first sealing rib and said second sealing rib located diametricallyopposite from said fourth sealing rib and said third sealing rib to holdthe housing and the sleeve in a concentric relation with respect to eachother; laterally extending the end of the first sealing rib into sealingengagement with said housing and laterally extending the end of thesecond sealing rib into sealing engagement with said housing to form aspace between said housing and said sleeve while forming a fluid sealbetween the end of the first sealing rib and the housing and the end ofthe second sealing rib and the housing to inhibit lateral flowtherepast; laterally extending the end of the third sealing rib intosealing engagement with said housing and laterally extending the end ofthe fourth sealing rib into sealing engagement with said housing to forma space between said housing and said sleeve while forming a fluid sealbetween the end of the fourth sealing rib and the housing and the end ofthe third sealing rib and the housing to inhibit lateral flow therepast;torqueing the sleeve with respect to the housing with sufficient torqueto exceed a linking threshold so as to cause at least one of the axiallyresilient yieldable bands extending partially around a circumference ofthe sleeve to resiliently yield in an axial direction as the index tabon said housing moves to an adjacent notch in the slot during anindexing rotation of the sleeve with respect to the housing to therebychange an alignment of the one or more diffusion ports of the housingwith the one or more diffusion ports of the sleeve while maintaining thehousing and the sleeve in the concentric sealing relation to each otherduring the torqueing of the sleeve.
 2. The method of indexing thedispenser of claim 1 including the step of using the first sealing riband the second sealing rib to encourage fluid transfer through atransfer area along a side of each of the ribs formed by the alignmentof one or more of diffusion ports of the housing and the one or morediffusion ports on the sleeve.
 3. The method of indexing the dispenserof claim 1 while sealingly engaging the first sealing rib and the secondsealing rib on the sleeve with the housing.
 4. The method of indexingthe dispenser of claim 1 comprising forcing the index tab from a firstnotch in the slot into an adjacent notch in the slot without deformingthe index tab.